OUTLOOK
Fall fishing is starting to ramp up, and there’s lots happening on the water right now! The Fraser Mouth Chinook fishery has been excellent, with several 30+ pound Tyees arriving at the PA docks this past week. We’re expecting more big white chinook as the run peaks toward mid-September, with strong hatchery coho also in the mix.
On the freshwater side, the Vedder is seeing the first push of fall chinook, with coho starting to trickle in. River levels are still very low and clear, so conditions are challenging, but some rain would really help get fresh fish moving into the system.
For our stillwater anglers, Fall chironomid season is underway on many Interior lakes. Cooler temperatures have triggered some of the much-anticipated late-summer and fall hatches, making this one of the best times of year to get out and chase trout on the lakes.
Save the Date! Our Fall Fishing Sale is coming September 19 & 20! The sale will be in-store and online, so mark your calendars and keep an eye on your inbox and our social feeds for more details.
There’s lots to be excited about as we head into Fall. Stop by the shop, get your gear dialled in, and we’ll see you on the water!
CLASSES AND COURSES
We have a great line-up for our Fall Courses.
Please note that the Introduction to Fly Fishing Course is SOLD OUT. Please call the store to have your name placed on the waitlist.
Introduction to Fly Fishing
Fall Salmon River Fishing Floats, Spinners & Spoons
This 3hr evening seminar covers float fishing, spinner fishing and spoon fishing; the three most productive techniques to catch BC salmon in a river.
Cost: $85.00 +GST
Date: September 22, 2026
Seminar Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Fly Fishing for Salmon in Rivers
Fly fishing for salmon is one of the most exciting fisheries in the Lower Mainland. Let us teach you the techniques and the hot spots to catch salmon on the fly in our local rivers. In the 3hr evening seminar you will learn about rod, reel and line, sink tip, and fly selection. Then put the skills into practice during a fully guided day on the water where you will learn how to read water and swing the fly!
Seminar Only Cost: $85.00+GST
Seminar Date: October 20
Seminar & Guided Walk’n Wade Cost: $375.00+GST per angler, minimum of 2 anglers per guided day on the water.
Walk 'n Wade Dates: October 24, 25, November 1 or 2
Nymphing Coastal Streams
This course is designed to teach you the secrets to one of the most productive presentations in the BC fly fishermen’s arsenal; indicator nymphing. This deadly method can be used across season for different species of trout, char, and salmon. We focus on fundamentals of nymphing, specifics on egging and a light dive into tight line / euro techniques. We also do a deep dive in to the gear you need to make the most of your time on the water.
Seminar Only Cost: $85+GST
Seminar Date: November 17
Seminar & Guided Walk’n Wade Cost: $375.00+GST per angler, minimum of 2 anglers per guided day on the water.
Walk 'n Wade Dates: November 21 or 22
INDUSTRY EVENTS AND UPDATES
Save The Date - Fall Fishing Sale – September 19 and 20, 2026
It's back - our Fall Fishing Sale – get geared up for the season ahead for less. Sale will be in-store and online next weekend Saturday September 19 and Sunday September 20, 2026! Keep an eye on your inbox and our social feeds for more details!
FRESHWATER FISHING REPORTS
Chilliwack/Vedder Fishing Report
It’s early September now, which means the beginning of the Fall salmon season on the Vedder river. Coho and chinook retention officially opens on September first for 4 chinook a day, only 2 over 62 cm, and 4 hatchery marked coho per day. Chinook and coho will be starting to trickle in overnight, and I think there are mainly chinook around at the moment, however a few coho will be starting to show up.
Run Timing
Chinook will start to show up first, and we are seeing some reports of a few being caught already. As September goes on more fish will arrive. Coho generally start to show up more towards the end of September, with their run peaking in early to mid-October. Following the coho will be chum, which is still up in the air if there will be an opening or not. In recent years chum salmon have been closed to retention throughout much of the Lower Mainland. It’s still too early to make any assumptions but stay tuned for more information.
Water Level
The Vedder is currently running pretty low. The graph under the crossing bridge reads about 1.44m as of writing this report. This will result in some very low and clear conditions, making fish father spooky and tight lipped. It will also cause the fish to condense into deeper pools and areas with shade. We should get some nice dumps of rain as we head into the Fall, which should hopefully bring the river levels up a bit. This will really get the fish moving up the Fraser and into the river.
Some of my favourite low water presentations for float fishing.
Gear
The low water conditions will make the river run very clear. This means smaller, more subtle presentations will be the best choice. Small light pink, or mottled beads, as well as very small chunks of roe drifted under a float can yield success. For spoons and spinners, I would go with very small ¼ oz Crocs, or size 3 Blue Fox spinners, in a copper or gold color. Fluorocarbon leaders will make a huge difference in these conditions. Fluorocarbon like Seaguar STS doesn’t reflect as much light as monofilament and when fish are spooked it can make all the difference.
Some of my favourite spoons and spinners for low and clear river conditions.
This time of year is tough out on the Vedder and we really need some rain to bump up the river levels to push in some fresh aggressive fish. If you’ve been thinking of getting out, it’s definitely worth the scouting trip, and if you're lucky, maybe even bring home a fish. It should be another great season out on the Vedder River this year so stay tuned for more in depth reports as the fishing picks up and the season progresses.
Jacob Leboe
STILLWATER FISHING REPORTS
BC Interior Lakes Fishing Report
Fall is definitely in the air, and the lakes in Regions 3, 5, and 8 are cooling off nicely. These cooler temperatures, along with the time of year, have triggered the much-anticipated Fall chironomid hatch on many of the most productive chironomid lakes.
September long weekend chironomids.
Which lakes produce Fall chironomid hatches? If a lake has a strong spring chironomid hatch, there is a good chance it will also see a late-Summer or Fall hatch. Timing depends on elevation, Summer weather, and late-Summer temperatures, but Fall chironomids typically start hatching in late August and continue through the end of September. Trout key in on these late-Summer and early-Fall hatches, making this some of the best chironomid fishing of the year.
A Fraser Valley strain rainbow trout caught while chironomid fishing in 22 feet of water this past weekend.
Most of the lakes we have been fishing are still sitting in the mid-60s°F, so they need to cool considerably before dropping into the low 50s and high 40s, when fish really begin moving into the shallows. In the meantime, get out and enjoy the Fall chironomid fishing while it lasts. It takes some effort to dial in the right timing and locations, but the reward can be some of the best lake fishing of the year, with far fewer boats than in the Spring.
See you in the shop or on the water,
Jason Tonelli
SALTWATER FISHING REPORTS
Vancouver Saltwater Salmon Fishing Report
Tyee season is officially underway, with several chinook over 30 pounds arriving at the PA docks this past week. PA guides have also landed Tyees on recent trips, and we expect more large white chinook as the run peaks toward mid-September.
A 30 plus pounder on Captain Eddie’s boat from this past week.
There have also been some strong hatchery coho in the mix, along with plenty of chinook in the more common 12- to 18-pound range. Overall, fishing has been excellent, and we should see a few more weeks of strong Fraser Mouth action for both chinook and coho.
Our most productive setups have been chartreuse and green glow flashers paired with similar-coloured teaser heads and 5.5- to 6-inch anchovies. The best depths have been 35 to 75 feet on the riggers.
If it is too windy to fish the Fraser Mouth, remember the Capilano Mouth. This fishery has been a little slow so far, but it has improved in recent days. It usually picks up around mid-September and remains productive until the first rains push the coho and chinook up the Capilano River.
Speaking of rain, there is not much in the 14-day forecast. That is good news for anglers fishing the river mouths, though not ideal for those fishing the rivers. The dry weather should keep the Fraser and Cap productive for the foreseeable future, so get out there and enjoy the last of Summer and Fall chinook and coho fishing.
See you in the shop or on the water,
Jason Tonelli
